By Bill Parry
A new hybrid performance art and teaching venue called Q.E.D. opens in Astoria next week and the owner plans on giving “mixed-use” a whole new meaning. In the daytime the 1,200-square-foot-space will have classes and in the evenings there will be comedy shows and guest lectures.
“Nobody has ever heard of a place like this,” owner Kambri Crews said. “It’s a comedy club, a learning annex, a community center and a performance space all rolled into one. I call it an afterschool for adults.”
She got the idea when she picked up a child she mentors from an afterschool program. “I always wondered why she wanted to leave when there was all this fun stuff to do. I figured I’d make one for adults,” Crews said.
Some of the daytime classes at the venue, at 27-16 23rd Ave., will include greeting card writing, an introduction to sign language, a humor writing class, flower arranging and pickling.
“We want to have a class in how to carve a turkey before Thanksgiving, but first I need somebody to cook me one,” Crews said.
At night, Q.E.D. will rely heavily on all things comedy, according to Crews, who is a writer, producer and publicist. The club opens Nov. 2 with an open-mic comedy night followed by Frank Conniff’s Cartoon Dump on Monday. It will be the actor/writer’s first New York appearance.
On Nov. 4, Q.E.D. will hostand SNL Writer Showcase. “Saturday Night Live’s co-head writer Bryan Tucker will be here with several of his writers and one cast member to discuss the-behind-the-scenes work on a show like that,” Crews said. Colbert Report writer Eric Drysdale is scheduled for the following week.
Most shows will cost less than $10.
“We want to stay open and be affordable, but we don’t want to go bankrupt,” Crews said.
Crews has lived in Astoria for 15 years since marrying comedian Christian Finnegan.
“This is the longest I’ve ever been in one place my whole life. This is my home,” she said.
The name Q.E.D. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “quod erat demonstrandom” which translates to “that which was demonstrated.” Other class ideas include; Star gazing for dummies, story telling, balloon twisting, knitting or crocheting, the History of Queens and Ukranian Easter Egg Design. Teachers will receive $20-$50 depending on the length of the class, and if they’d like, they could sell their own merchandise and keep all the proceeds.
The new age community center will include a café space for coffee, pastries and pre-made sandwiches that will be catered. The storefront has a curious history, according to Crews.
“This used to be an old Greek soccer club,” she said. “Some old guy told me it used to be an illegal gambling operation and sure enough when I was cleaning the basement, I found all kinds of poker chips and lots of playing cards.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718–260-4538.
